U.S. patent number 6,018,334 [Application Number 08/803,445] was granted by the patent office on 2000-01-25 for computer pointing device.
Invention is credited to Gary Culliss, Mark Eckerberg.
United States Patent |
6,018,334 |
Eckerberg , et al. |
January 25, 2000 |
Computer pointing device
Abstract
A computer pointing device including a supporting member which
supports or forms a part of a conventionally-known QWERTY keyboard.
The supporting member is movable relative to a supporting surface
and includes a sensor for sensing directional movements or
directional pressures of the supporting member relative to the
supporting surface. Alternatively, a palm rest can be movably
coupled relative to the supporting member and include a sensor for
sensing directional movements or pressures applied to palm rest.
The sensor can be coupled to a computer to control a pointer on the
computer display. By these structures, a user can operate the
computer pointing device without moving the hands from the QWERTY
keyboard by moving the QWERTY keyboard and/or the adjacent palm
rest relative to a supporting surface.
Inventors: |
Eckerberg; Mark (Overland Park,
KS), Culliss; Gary (Overland Park, KS) |
Family
ID: |
25186523 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/803,445 |
Filed: |
February 20, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/163; 341/22;
345/157; 345/167; 345/168 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0213 (20130101); G06F 3/0354 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/033 (20060101); G06F 3/02 (20060101); G09G
003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;345/161,163,167,168,169,157 ;341/20,22 ;400/473,479 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Integrated mouse and keyboard', IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin,
vol.31, No.8, p. 230, Jan. 1989..
|
Primary Examiner: Wu; Daniel J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Culliss; Gary
Claims
What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is as follows:
1. A computer pointing device comprising:
a supporting member adapted to receive and support a QWERTY
computer keyboard, the supporting member being slidable relative to
a supporting surface;
a sensor mounted relative to the supporting member for sensing
directional movements of the supporting member relative to the
supporting surface, the sensor being couplable to a computer to
cause movements of a computer screen pointer displayed on the
screen of the computer, whereby a user can move the computer
pointer by moving the supporting member relative to the supporting
surface;
an intermediate member slidably coupled relative to the supporting
member, the intermediate member being slidable relative to a
supporting surface, whereby the supporting member can be slidably
moved relative to the intermediate member, and the intermediate
member can be slidably moved relative to the supporting
surface.
2. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the supporting
member is guided to slide in a first direction, and the
intermediate member is guided to move in a second direction
relative to the supporting surface, wherein the first direction is
oriented substantially orthogonal relative to the second
direction.
3. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor
comprises a mouse ball mounted relative to the supporting member
and projecting beyond the intermediate member for contact with the
supporting surface.
4. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor
comprises a first mouse ball interposed between the supporting
member and the intermediate member, and a second mouse ball mounted
relative to the intermediate member for engagement against the
supporting surface.
5. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor
comprises a joystick-type sensor mounted relative to the supporting
member and projecting beyond the intermediate member for contact
with the supporting surface.
6. A computer pointing device comprising:
a supporting member adapted to receive and support a QWERTY
computer keyboard, the supporting member being slidable relative to
a supporting surface;
a sensor mounted relative to the supporting member for sensing
directional movements of the supporting member relative to the
supporting surface, the sensor being couplable to a computer to
cause movements of a computer screen pointer displayed on the
screen of the computer, whereby a user can move the computer
pointer by moving the supporting member relative to the supporting
surface;
an intermediate member slidably coupled relative to the supporting
member, and a base member slidably coupled relative to the
intermediate member, the base member being positionable upon a
supporting surface, whereby the supporting member can be slidably
moved relative to the intermediate member, and the intermediate
member can be slidably moved relative to the base member.
7. The computer pointing device of claim 6, wherein the sensor
comprises a mouse ball interposed between the supporting member and
the base member.
8. The computer pointing device of claim 6, wherein the sensor
comprises a first translating member secured to the supporting
member and a second translating member secured to the base member,
a first light emitter and detector pair mounted relative to the
intermediate member, a second light emitter and detector pair
mounted relative to the intermediate member, a first chopper wheel
rotatably mounted between the first light emitter and detector
pair, with the first translating member being coupled to the first
chopper wheel so as to rotate the first chopper wheel as the
supporting member is moved relative to the intermediate member, and
a second chopper wheel rotatably mounted between the second light
emitter and detector pair, with the second translating member being
coupled to the second chopper wheel so as to rotate the second
chopper wheel as the intermediate member is moved relative to the
base member.
9. The computer pointing device of claim 6, wherein the sensor
comprises a joystick-type sensor interposed between the supporting
member and the base member.
10. The computer pointing device of claim 9, wherein the sensor
comprises a first joystick-type sensor interposed between the
supporting member and the intermediate member, and a second
joystick-type sensor interposed between the intermediate member and
the base member.
11. A computer pointing device comprising:
a supporting member adapted to receive and support a QWERTY
computer keyboard, the supporting member being slidable relative to
a supporting surface;
a sensor mounted relative to the supporting member for sensing
directional movements of the supporting member relative to the
supporting surface, the sensor being couplable to a computer to
cause movements of a computer screen pointer displayed on the
screen of the computer, whereby a user can move the computer
pointer by moving the supporting member relative to the supporting
surface;
an intermediate member slidably coupled relative to the supporting
member and projecting above the supporting member, and a base
member slidably coupled relative to the intermediate member and
projecting above the intermediate member, the base member being
securable relative to a bottom surface of a suspended supporting
surface, whereby the supporting member can be slidably moved
relative to the intermediate member, and the intermediate member
can be slidably moved relative to the base member.
12. The computer pointing device of claim 11, wherein the sensor
comprises a first translating member secured to the supporting
member and a second translating member secured to the base member,
a first light emitter and detector pair mounted relative to the
intermediate member, a second light emitter and detector pair
mounted relative to the intermediate member, a first chopper wheel
rotatably mounted between the first light emitter and detector
pair, with the first translating member being coupled to the first
chopper wheel so as to rotate the first chopper wheel as the
supporting member is moved relative to the intermediate member, and
a second chopper wheel rotatably mounted between the second light
emitter and detector pair, with the second translating member being
coupled to the second chopper wheel so as to rotate the second
chopper wheel as the intermediate member is moved relative to the
base member.
13. A computer pointing device comprising:
a supporting member adapted to receive and support a QWERTY
computer keyboard;
a palm rest mounted relative to the supporting member;
at least one palm pad slidably mounted relative to the palm rest so
as to slide in both first and second orthogonally oriented
directions relative to the palm rest;
a sensor mounted relative to the palm rest for sensing directional
movements of the palm pad relative to the palm rest.
14. The computer pointing device of claim 13, wherein the sensor is
a joystick-type sensor interposed between the palm pad and the palm
rest.
15. A computer pointing device comprising:
a supporting member adapted to receive and support a QWERTY
computer keyboard;
a palm rest movably mounted relative to the supporting member;
a sensor mounted relative to the palm rest for sensing directional
movements of the palm pad relative to the palm rest, the sensor
comprising a joystick-type sensor interposed between the supporting
member and the palm rest.
16. The computer pointing device of claim 15, and further
comprising at least one flexible support extending between the
supporting member and the palm rest.
17. A computer pointing device comprising:
a supporting member adapted to receive and support a QWERTY
computer keyboard such that the QWERTY computer keyboard can be
selectively positioned upon and selectively separated from the
supporting member as desired by a user, the supporting member being
freely positionable upon an upper surface of a supporting surface,
the supporting member being slidable in at least two horizontal
directions relative to the supporting surface;
a sensor mounted relative to the supporting member for sensing
directional movements of the supporting member relative to the
supporting surface, the sensor being couplable to a computer to
cause movements of a computer screen pointer displayed on the
screen of the computer, whereby a user can move the computer
pointer by moving the supporting member relative to the supporting
surface; and
a palm rest coupled to the supporting member, with the sensor being
located within the palm rest and projecting downwardly beyond the
supporting member to sense a movement of the supporting member
relative to the supporting surface.
18. A method of converting a QWERTY computer keyboard into a
computer pointing device comprising the steps of:
providing a QWERTY computer keyboard;
providing a supporting member adapted to receive and support the
QWERTY computer keyboard such that the QWERTY computer keyboard can
be selectively positioned upon and selectively separated from the
supporting member, the supporting member being freely positionable
upon an upper surface of a supporting surface, the supporting
member being slidable in at least two horizontal directions
relative to the supporting surface;
providing a sensor mounted relative to the supporting member for
sensing directional movements of the supporting member relative to
the supporting surface, the sensor being couplable to a computer to
cause movements of a computer screen pointer displayed on the
screen of the computer;
providing a palm rest coupled to the supporting member with the
sensor being located within the palm rest and projecting downwardly
beyond the supporting member to sense a movement of the supporting
member relative to the supporting surface;
positioning the supporting member upon an upper surface of a
supporting surface such that the supporting member is slidable in
at least two horizontal directions relative to the supporting
surface;
removably positioning the QWERTY computer keyboard upon the
supporting member;
wherein a user can move a computer screen pointer by moving the
QWERTY computer keyboard and supporting member relative to the
supporting surface when the sensor is coupled to a computer so as
to cause movements of a computer screen pointer displayed on the
screen of the computer;
and further wherein the user can selectively separate the QWERTY
computer keyboard from the supporting member as desired by the
user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Related Disclosures
This patent application contains subject matter disclosed in
Disclosure Document Number 405,137 and Disclosure Document Number
408,016.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer control devices and more
particularly pertains to a computer pointing device operated by a
user's palm movements sensed through the resulting movement of the
keyboard or adjacent palm rest.
3. Description of the Prior Art
The use of computer control devices is known in the prior art. More
specifically, existing computer control devices typically employ a
separate mouse device which the user can manipulate over a surface
or mouse pad. Manual directional movement of the mouse is
translated into a corresponding directional movement of a pointer
on the computer screen. This allows the user to point to certain
objects, menus or icons on the screen and select functions or
manipulate information on the computer.
Another existing computer control device employs a small button,
typically red in color, which is situated between two keys on the
computer keyboard of a laptop computer. This device is operated by
the index finger of an individual and works much like a joystick
control. The directional pressure on the button is translated into
a corresponding directional movement at a speed proportional to the
amount of pressure applied.
Examples of these and other similar types of computer control
device are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,101; U.S. Pat. No.
4,724,715; U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,573; U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,516; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,994,795; U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,863; U.S. Pat. No.
5,063,376; U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,760; U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,321; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,268,675; U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,690; U.S. Pat. No.
5,433,407; U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,480; U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,192; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,647.
The main problem with most existing computer control devices is
that a user must move or otherwise reorient the hand or finger from
a typing position on the computer keyboard to operate the control
device, and then back again to the computer keyboard to continue
typing. This re-orientation visually distracts the user and takes a
significant amount of time in the aggregate.
Thus, while these devices fulfill their respective, particular
objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not
disclose a computer pointing device for operated by a user's palm
movements sensed through a resulting translating movement of a
standard keyboard or through a resulting directional pressure on an
adjacent palm rest.
In these respects, the computer pointing device according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
new computer pointing device which can be operated by an individual
without moving the hand or any fingers from the keys of a QWERTY
keyboard.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new computer
pointing device which is operated by a user's palm movements sensed
through a resulting translating movement of a standard keyboard or
through a resulting directional pressure on an adjacent palm
rest.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
supporting member which supports or forms a part of a
conventionally known QWERTY keyboard. The supporting member is
movable relative to a supporting surface and includes a sensor for
sensing directional movements or pressures of the supporting member
relative to the supporting surface. Alternatively, a palm rest can
be movably coupled relative to the supporting member and include a
sensor for sensing directional movements or pressures applied to
palm rest. The sensor can be coupled to a computer to control a
pointer on the computer display. By these structures, a user can
operate the computer pointing device without moving the hands from
the QWERTY keyboard.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the
claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction and
to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a computer pointing device
according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention.
FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of an alternative form of the
invention.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the alternative form of the
invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view of another alternative form of the
invention.
FIG. 7 is an isometric illustration of another alternative form of
the invention.
FIG. 8 is an isometric illustration of another alternative form of
the invention.
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a portion of one type of
sensor of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an isometric illustration of a portion of another type
of sensor of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an isometric illustration of another alternative form of
the invention.
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of another alternative form of the
invention.
FIG. 13 is an isometric illustration of another alternative form of
the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-13
thereof, a new computer pointing device embodying the principles
and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by
the reference numeral 10 will be described.
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 through 3, the computer pointing
device 10 comprises a supporting member 12 adapted to receive and
support a conventionally-known QWERTY computer keyboard 14. This
conventional type of QWERTY keyboard 14 is discussed in the
"Background of the Invention" section within U.S. Pat. No.
4,917,516, and such disclosure is herein incorporated by reference.
As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting member 12 may alternatively form
an integral or attached part of the QWERTY keyboard 14.
The supporting member 12 can be slidably moved relative to an
unillustrated supporting surface. To facilitate ease of such
movement, one or more supporting feet 16 can be coupled to the
bottom surface of the supporting member 12. The feet 16 are
preferably made of a low-friction material, such as the material
commonly sold under the trademarked name "TEFLON."
A sensor 18 is mounted relative to the supporting member 12 and
operates to sense directional movements of the supporting member 12
relative to the supporting surface. The sensor 18 can be coupled to
a conventionally known computer to cause movements of a computer
screen pointer displayed on the screen of the computer using
conventionally known software. By this structure, a user can move
the computer pointer without lifting hands or fingers from the
QWERTY keyboard 14 by simply moving the keyboard and supporting
member 12 together over a supporting surface.
If desired, a palm rest 20 can be coupled to the supporting member
12 or form a part of the QWERTY keyboard 14 as a place for a user
to rest the palms. One or more buttons 22 can be coupled to the
palm rest 20 or QWERTY keyboard 14 to allow the user to select
objects from the computer screen by simply clicking the buttons
when the computer screen pointer is on a desired object or icon. As
shown in FIG. 11, the palm rest 20 may simply comprise a support
for the buttons 22, with the keyboard 14, such as that of the
illustrated laptop computer 21, forming the remainder of the palm
rest 20 when the keyboard is positioned on the supporting member
12. As shown in FIG. 12, the palm rest 20 may include a contoured
interior edge 23 shaped to conform to a contoured exterior front
edge of an unillustrated ergonomic keyboard.
The sensor 18 can be any type of sensor 18 capable of detecting
movement of the supporting member 12. In one of its forms, the
sensor 18 can be a conventionally known mouse ball 24 which is
coupled to the bottom surface of the supporting member 12. This
type of mouse ball is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,795 and such
disclosure is herein incorporated by reference.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6, the present invention 10 may
further comprise an intermediate member 26 slidably coupled to the
supporting member 12. Such slidable coupling can be accomplished by
one or more guide members 28 extending between the supporting
member 12 and the intermediate member 26. The guide members 28 may,
for example, comprise ball-bearing supported tracks, tongue and
groove arrangements, or any other conceivable type of guiding
element or elements. In this embodiment, the intermediate member 26
can also be slidably moved relative to the unillustrated supporting
surface. To facilitate ease of such movement, the intermediate
member 26 can have one or more of the supporting feet 16 coupled to
the bottom surface thereof. By this structure, the supporting
member 12 can be slidably moved relative to the intermediate member
26, and the intermediate member can be slidably moved relative to
the supporting surface to allow for directional movement of the
QWERTY keyboard 14 relative to the supporting surface which is
sensed by the sensor 18. Such movement is then converted into a
corresponding movement of the computer screen pointer.
The supporting member 12 can be guided by the guide members 28 to
slide in a first direction, and the intermediate member 26 can be
guided to slide in a second direction relative to the supporting
surface. To this end, one or more pairs of wheels can be rotatably
mounted to the bottom surface of the intermediate member 26. To
prevent or reduce rotation of the intermediate member 26 relative
to the supporting surface, each wheel in a pair can be coupled
together by an axle 32 which causes the wheels to rotate
together.
When the sensor 18 takes the form of the mouse ball 24, the
intermediate member 26 may be shaped to define an access opening 34
which allows the mouse ball 24 to project through or around the
intermediate member 26 and into contact with the supporting
surface. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 6, the sensor 18 may
comprise two separate mouse balls 24. A first one of the mouse
balls 24 can be mounted relative to the supporting member 12 and
engaged against the upper surface of the intermediate member 26. A
second one of the mouse balls 24 can mounted relative to the
intermediate member 26 for engagement against the supporting
surface during use. The first mouse ball 24 could operate to sense
movement of the supporting member 12 in the first direction and the
second mouse ball could operate to sense movement of the
intermediate member 26 in the second direction, or vice-versa as
shown in FIG. 6.
As also shown in FIG. 6, the supporting member 12 and/or the
intermediate member 26 can be shaped to define an inclined plane
which allows gravity to force the supporting member 12 toward, or
if desired away from, a user. Alternatively, springs or like
biasing elements could be coupled between the members 12 and 26 to
also cause such movement.
Turning now to FIG. 7, the present invention 10 may also include a
base member 36 slidably coupled to the intermediate member 26. As
discussed above, such slidable coupling can be accomplished by one
or more of the guide members 28 extending between the intermediate
member 26 and the base member 36. Thus, the supporting member 12
can be slidably moved relative to the intermediate member 26, and
the intermediate member can be slidably moved relative to the base
member 36 to allow for directional movement of the QWERTY keyboard
14 relative to the supporting surface which is sensed by the sensor
18.
When the sensor 18 takes the form of the mouse ball 24, the
intermediate member 26 may be shaped to define the access opening
34 which allows the mouse ball 24 to project through or around the
intermediate member 26 and into contact with the base member 36.
Alternatively, as discussed above, the sensor 18 may comprise two
separate mouse balls 24, with a first one of the mouse balls 24
mounted relative to the supporting member 12 and engaged against
the upper surface of the intermediate member 26 and a second one of
the mouse balls 24 mounted relative to the intermediate member 26
and engaged against the upper surface of the base member 36.
Turning now to FIG. 8, the invention 10 may be embodied in a
drawer-type form suitable for mounting beneath an unillustrated
desk. In this embodiment, the supporting member 12 defines a
receiving space 38 within which the QWERTY keyboard 14 can be
positioned. Alternatively, the QWERTY keyboard can form an integral
part of the supporting member 12, as described above. The
supporting member 12 is slidably coupled to the intermediate member
26 by the guide members. In this embodiment, the intermediate
member 26 may comprise one or more brackets which project above the
supporting member 12. The brackets of the intermediate member 26
are also slidably coupled to the base member 36. The base member 36
can thus be secured beneath a supporting surface such as a desk or
the like to support the invention 10 therebeneath and allow the
supporting member 12 to move in both the first and second
directions relative to the supporting surface. Preferably, the
first and second directions are orthogonally oriented relative to
one another.
As shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, the sensor 18 may take the form of
a first translating member 40 which is coupled at one or both ends
thereof to the supporting member 12. Similarly, a second
translating member 42 is coupled at one or both ends thereof to the
base member 36. As shown in FIG. 10, the sensor 18 further includes
a light emitter and detector pair 44 for each of the translating
members 40 and 42. The light emitter and detector pairs are mounted
relative to the intermediate member 26 and each intersect an
individual one of the translating members 40 and 42.
As shown in FIG. 9, the sensor 18 further includes chopper wheels
46, each positioned between an individual one of the light emitter
and detector pairs 44. The chopper wheels 46 are each rotatably
coupled relative to the intermediate member 26 and include an axle
48 about which the respective translating element 40 or 42 is
wrapped such that a movement of the translating element relative to
the intermediate member 26 will rotate the chopper wheel within the
light beam extending between the respective light emitter and
detector pair 44. If needed, a spring 43 can tension the respective
translating member about the respective axle 48. Instead of
wrapping around the axle 48, the translating member 40 or 42 may
simply be frictionally engaged against an exterior surface of the
axle.
As shown in FIG. 10, the sensor 18 may alternatively include a
chopper comb 50 coupled relative to the translating member 42 such
that a movement of the translating element relative to the
intermediate member 26 will move the chopper comb within the light
beam extending between the light emitter and detector pair.
Although the light emitter and detector pairs have been described
as being mounted relative to the intermediate member 26, they may
alternatively be coupled relative to the supporting member 12 and
the base member 36, with the translating members 40 and 42 being
appropriately coupled to the intermediate member 26. This form of
the sensor 18 may also be employed in any of the other disclosed
embodiments, especially in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. If
desired, the chopper comb 50 may form a part of one of the guide
members 28 to further integrate the invention.
Although not illustrated, the light emitter and detector pairs 44
also include associated electronics which convert the modulated
light signal into an electrical signal which controls the computer
and results in a corresponding movement of the pointing device on
screen. Such associated electronics are disclosed within U.S. Pat.
No. 4,712,101, which disclosure is herein incorporated by
reference.
Another form of the sensor 18 takes the form of a joystick-type
sensor 52 (see FIG. 2) that senses directional pressures and
generates a continuous signal directing the computer screen pointer
to move in the direction of the pressure. The joystick-type sensor
52 can also control the speed of the computer screen pointer as a
function of the pressure applied to the joystick-type sensor.
Examples of such joystick-type sensors 52 are disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,065,146, U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,386, U.S. Pat. No.
5,541,622, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,987, the disclosures of which
are all incorporated herein by reference.
In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the
joystick-type sensor 52 can be mounted to the bottom surface of the
supporting member 12 so as to frictionally engage the supporting
surface therebeneath. A movement or application of directional
pressure tending to slide the supporting member 12 relative to the
supporting surface will then be sensed by the joystick-type sensor
52.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 6, the
joystick-type sensor 52 can be mounted relative to the supporting
member 12 and project through the access opening 34 of the
intermediate member 26 and into frictional engagement with the
supporting surface. Alternatively, a pair of joystick-type sensors
52 can be employed, with one joystick-type sensor mounted to the
supporting member 12 and engaging the intermediate member 26, and
another joystick-type sensor mounted to the intermediate member and
engaging the supporting surface.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the joystick-type sensor
or sensors 52 can be mounted in a similar fashion with the single
joystick-type sensor extending from either the supporting member 12
or the base member 36 and projecting through the access opening 34.
If a pair of joystick-type sensors 52 are utilized, then the lower
joystick-type sensor can engage the base member 36 instead of the
supporting surface.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the joystick-type sensors 52 can
be mounted between adjacent members 12, 26, and 36 so as to sense
directional pressures therebetween. Specifically, each of the
joystick-type sensors 52 can be mounted to one of the members 12,
26, or 36 and frictionally engaged with an adjacent member 12, 26,
or 36. This frictional engagement will allow the members 12, 26,
and 36 to be positioned into a desired orientation, as the
frictional engagement can be exceeded by sufficient pressure to
allow the projecting member of each joystick-type sensor to slide
relative to the adjacent member 12, 26, or 36. The supporting
member 12 can thus be positioned into a desired orientation,
whereby subsequent movement of the supporting member 12 will then
create directional pressures on the joystick-type sensors through
the frictional engagement to cause the pointer to move on the
computer screen.
Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, the present invention 10 may
alternatively include one or more palm pads 54 which are slidably
mounted relative to the palm rest 20. Specifically, the palm pads
54 should be mounted so as to slide in two orthogonally oriented
directions relative to the palm rest 20. Each palm pad 54 includes
a sensor 18 interposed between the palm pad and the palm rest 20 or
supporting member 12 for sensing movement of the palm pad.
Preferably, the sensor 18 is the joystick-type sensor 52 discussed
above. As shown in FIG. 13, the palm rest 20 itself can be movably
mounted relative to the so as to slide in two orthogonally oriented
directions relative to the supporting member 12.
The sensor 18 is interposed between the palm rest 20 and the
supporting member 12 and preferably comprises the joystick-type
sensor 54. To further movably or slidably support the palm rest 20
relative to the supporting member 12, one or more flexible supports
56 can extend therebetween. The flexible supports 56 may comprise
elements such a coil spring or the like. By this structure, a
movement of the palms of a user while resting on the palm pads 54
or palm rest 20 will result in a corresponding movement of the
computer screen pointer.
In use, the present invention 10 allows a user to articulate the
computer screen pointer by simply moving the keyboard 14, palm pad
54 or palm rest 20 as described above. The sensor 18 can be coupled
to the computer through any input port, such as a serial input
port. If desired, the sensor can be configured in parallel with a
conventionally known handheld type mouse to allow either the
present invention 10 or the conventional mouse to articulate the
computer screen pointer.
Although the sensor 18 has been described in various embodiments,
the present invention contemplates any possible type of sensor now
known or later developed which is capable of detecting movement of
the supporting member 12 and/or the QWERTY keyboard 14 or palm rest
20 relative to the support surface or other members 26 and 36. As
such, these devices are considered to be encompassed by the term
"sensor" as used herein.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of
the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the
manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
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